VISAKHAPATNAM: For the fiscal year 2022-23, the Port of Visakhapatnam handled 73.73 million tonnes of cargo, the highest in the port's history, compared to 69.03 million tonnes during the same period in the previous year, representing a 7 per cent increase.
The previous highest was 72.72 million tonnes achieved in the 2019-20 financial year, said the chairman of Visakhapatnam Port Authority K. Rama Mohan Rao.
The chairman said at a press conference in Visakhapatnam on Friday that steam coal cargo handling increased by 67 per cent, from 70.05 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 117.10 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, and crude oil increased by 13 per cent, from 142.49 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 161.25 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.
Similarly, coking coal handling decreased by 11 per cent, and fertilisers decreased by 6 per cent. But the thermal coal handling was down by 57 per cent. It was 25.96 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 and 11.29 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. The chairman stated that as part of establishing VPA as a landlord port, three PPP projects totalling ₹ 655 crores were awarded to various agencies, with another two projects in the advanced stage of awarding.
Among the accomplishments during the fiscal year, the chairman stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the modernisation of the fishing harbour under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and that the work was in full swing. He stated that ₹120 crores are being invested in the construction of a covered storage facility for 15 lakh tonnes of cargo, which will reduce pollution.
